Wintering around Gib

gunnarsilins

gunnarsilins

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www.eilean.se
We plan to spend the winter (dec-feb) somewhere in the area between Algarve to the west and Almeira in the east, does anybody have any suggestions of good places, regarding to climate, good marinas etc. Boat is a beamy 42´



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Vila Real on Spanish/ Portuguese border, fast flowing river so approach at right state of tide. Nice town , good connections and good sailing in nice weather through the winter.

Isla Canela on Spanish side also good but a little remote. Keep away from Albufeira, Vilamoura very touristy and loud. Portimao is ok.

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So many places to choose from -

I like Gib a lot - some interesting boaty folks there - worth a trip to Tangier for a week or so - great place - shopping for veggies in the Souk is not to be missed and the fish market just great.

Estapona has some good company - nearly always fun there and nothing wrong with Almerima except it's so far to the town..

all depends on what you like - size of boat no problem - all big marinas except Tangier where you raft up - or did when I was last there

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>
 
Visited the new marina at Albufeira for one night back in February.
I was curious then how it would work out: at the time the marina itself was nearly empty and none of the facilities were in so there was no way to judge. The architecture was ... erm ... entertaining for one night, not sure I could take it long-term. You're obviously not impressed: why not?

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Nobody is perfect.
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you went to Tanger??? with your own boat??? Thats not a good idea better take the ferry
funnily enough i was just saying it would be nice to spend some days in Tanger,Its amazing how many places are run by expats and the bier in some bars in far better than inUK and you soon pick up the language that is for shopping and if your there oftn enough you pay very little and the fruit veg and fish are really first class

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Been to Tanger - Tangiers 8 or 9 times in my own boat - very safe and secure - parking under the police/customs building in the secure port area which requires a pass.. better than most marinas.

Always had an excellent time there - only well traveled boats with liveaboards go as the others are too afraid!!!! good company and a great town - superb resturants, markets and cafes


<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time please visit my web site -
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i know Tanger very well,i always left my boat at madiq and took the bus(not very comfortable) and the port of Tanger looked problematic with corrupt officales. In madiq its well away from everything and the locals cant just go in, plus the fishermen are ok.

Have you really had no problems ?? and what about the passage from Gib? Do you have a motor boat?

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No Ive got a sail boat - Never had corruption problems in Tangier - it's a closed port - Fishermen are no problem - showers in the yacht club - the police and customs who look after the area are the same as work the ferry terminal so are pretty used to ocidentals... Do not expect bacshish and are honest.

<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time please visit my web site -
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>
 
Thats progress! though my thoughts about Tanger were based on a quick look from a distance and what i heard from non sailing expats over a pint of British bitter!! On my visits to Morroco i have seen some awful things the police do thankfully from a distance.I went to report my passport and credit cards missing--in the end i dident make the report but what i aw throw an open door froze me with fear to my seat--Id lost my wallet in the port and got it back!!!!!so all was well Fishermen there are mostly ok

<hr width=100% size=1>liveaboard
 
Depends on your taste but we like Marina Bay, Gibraltar £7.50 a night minus 10% cash monthly. great bunch of people on the marina, weekly quiz night etc. Our boat has been there a few months now and survived a particularly bad storm earlier this year. I suppose the main downside is the levanta cloud over the rock.

Good luck in your search.

Marina Bay = www.marinabay.gi


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Hi, We had friends with a young family spent most of last winter in Tangier said it was great no problems at all, I also know people who had a good time in Ceuta.

On the Europe side Portamo in Portugal was very good and has a real fan base, as has Almirimar in the Med, we spent a couple of months at Coleta de Vallez which was very cheap and easy although there were few other live aboards about.
All the marinas run by the local authority are cheap and generally well run there is a booklet with all of them in and I guess there is a web site too.

Hope it helps.

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Was in Vila Real/Isla Canela last week. Weather was superb.
I agree ...Isla Canela is a bit remote..but the marina is reasonably well set up.
(Took forever to get hot water out of the showers tho'..)
Vila Real marina is really well situated for the town..just so long as the fun fair is not there! The showers etc are a bit primative though... in a portacabin.
Across the river(on the Spanish side) is Ayamonte. It's a little quieter and the facilities are a lttle better.
I don't remember seeing any hard standing in either place. But Isla Canela has some ...and a hoist etc.

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<Weather superb>

We'll eat our hearts out - rain again and again in the UK !

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !
 
Don't plan on Villa Real for a full winter stay this year. They have a dredging program lined up, and friends there say that they are not allowing any more boats to have long term berths, so that they have spaces to move them around when the work is on. Short term availability is OK, on the long reception pontoon, until the work has starts.
If you are going to be aboard, not leaving the boat, the marina under construction at Olhoa, near Faro was still free the last time I heard, about two weeks ago.
Every now and then they say it is going to change, and everyone must leave, but it never seems to happen. There are no loos, no water, no elec., but it is a nice litttle town, and worth checking out. Very handy to Faro aorport, too.
Alternatively, if you don't need to plug in to shore, you could go up the Guadiana. There were about twenty boats at anchor there all last winter,at Sanlucar/Alcoutim.

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Thanks for the information so far. We are stuck in northern Portugal in the lovely town of Viana do Castelo, waiting for better winds. Any more information about Ceuta or other good marinas in Morocco?

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